The Foreign Ministry has begun the process of recalling Romania’s ambassador to Kenya, Dragos Viorel Sigau, after the diplomat found himself at the center of a racism scandal over some comments he made in April during a meeting at the United Nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it became aware of the incident on the evening of June 8.

Viorel Tigau (right)Photo: Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP / Profimedia

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It would all begin with the fact that during a discussion with a group of diplomats from Eastern Europe, the Romanian ambassador would say “an African group has joined us”, noticing a black monkey nearby, writes KenyanForeignPolicy.com.

After the MAE management became aware of the incident on the evening of June 8, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bohdan Aurescu, ordered the urgent relocation of the Romanian Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya and the Diplomatic Control and Evaluation Corps (CCED) of the MAE to immediately launch the relevant necessary procedures, including to determine MAE’s internal measures that are necessary in the given situation, MAE reports.

The MAE did not say how it became aware of the incident, given that Dragos Viorel Szygau did not notify the ministry of the incident he was involved in, as required by law, even though the incident occurred at the end of April, as reported by the African press.

“MAE states that unfortunately and contrary to the rules of the institution, including the rules of conduct and ethics, the Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Kenya did not inform MAE headquarters by June 8, in accordance with current procedures and practices, of the incident in question, which happened at the end of April 2023,” the institution headed by Bohdan Aurescu also said in the explanations.

The Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Kenya apologized after the incident, including a written one, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the hope that this isolated episode will not affect the deep nature of relations between Romania and the countries of the African continent, especially in the context in which Romanian diplomacy develops relations with Africa based on mutual respect. and partnership, an important priority of the promotional sale,” the ministry also said in a statement.